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We have seen quite a few different design concepts for the iPhone 5, the latest one comes from the guys over at Mac Rumors, and the design is based on a case from Chinese manufacturers which was reportedly designed on the iPhone 5 specifications.

Last month, we saw a leak of the design specification which claimed to be for the iPhone 5. Chinese case manufacturers seem to be betting on that design as they’ve alreadystarted producing cases based on that design document. We’d even requested and received some early renders based on the case designs.

Given how predictive the case designs have been in the past, we commissioned CiccareseDesign to create high quality renderings made as closely as possible to the original leaked case designs. Measurements were taken against the original case design leaks, and then imported into 3D modeling software.

The designs show manufacturers what areas need to be open or exposed for cases, but reveal little else. In the past, this has caused some misunderstandings about future features. iPad 2 cases seemed to suggest an extra port at the top of the device, but that turned out to be a space for a microphone hole. Similarly, there are a few areas on the iPhone 5 case designs that are open to interpretation. Click on the images for a larger view.

The elongated hole for the home button has suggested that the home button may itself also become more oval in shape. That is the direction our designer took as well. It’s also possible, however, that the home button will retain its round shape and Apple has simply allowed extra space for swiping across the home button in a left to right or right to left manner. These’s been some speculation that Apple could allow such a gesture for users to quickly switch between multitasking apps.

The exact screen size is another aspect that was hard to determine on the design drawings alone. Our renderings have enlarged the screen size to the space shown on the case designs. But, Apple has introduced a “swipe down” from the top of the screen notification system in iOS 5 that could benefit from some extra finger-space near the top of the screen in order to properly register. So, it may be that the screen isn’t quite as large as depicted by the cases, and simply Apple allowing for extra space for these swipes. The representation here, however, does show a 4 inch screen which preserves Apple’s current screen ratio. Rumors have suggested that Apple may be enlarging the screen size in the upcoming iPhone models.

The back of the device has tapered edges which makes it look much closer to the iPod touch. As well, there had been rumors that Apple would be abandoning the glass backing of the iPhone 4 and instead moving back to an aluminum design.

The final dimensions of the new design are calculated to be: 4.33″ x 2.36″ and .27″ thickness at the top and .21″ at the bottom In comparison, the iPhone 4 dimensions are: 4.5″ x 2.31″ x .37″. So the new design is actually shorter than the existing iPhone 4, but slightly wider and thinner.

Assuming the leaked case designs are accurate, the iPhone 5 should be close in appearance to these renderings. The iPhone 5 is expected to be released in September or October of this year.

Rumors have been floating around for months now that Apple would be launching a new HDTV that has been dubbed the AppleTV or iTV. Apple already had the AppleTV set-top box that has been around for a while and has been selling decently in the latest form.

A source has now said that the Apple supply chain is ramping up to start preparing the materials for the iTV in Q1. The source claims production will kick off in Q2 or Q3. Apple is said to be prepping 32-inch and 37-inch sizes to start.

The next generation of the AppleTV set-top boxes are also said to still be coming. A solution for users with existing TVs and one of people that want a TV with the tech inside already makes sense. I would bet that the set-top box and the iTV would share many of the same features.

However, other sources also revealed that Apple may continue to launch its next-generation STB-like Apple TVs in 2012 as it has lowered the price of its current version of Apple TV listed on Amazon by 9% recently.

The iTunes Extras Special Edition of the movie goes on sale Tuesday and includes “Green Screen X-Ray” features letting viewers deconstruct the extensive special effects during 17 scenes as they watch, as well as an original screenplay from director James Cameron, his scriptment, and a gallery of 1,700 images. You can get an idea of how the X-ray feature works from the images here and a trailer (included after the break), but at $20 for an HD copy, we figure it will be just the most dedicated fans taking a trip back to Pandora before the 3D Blu-ray is freed from exclusivity next year.

New Interactive Features Take Fans Deeper into Pandora than Ever Before

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 16, 2011) – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Lightstorm Entertainment announce AVATAR available digitally with first-of-its-kind interactive features in the “AVATAR iTunes Extras Special Edition” beginning on Tuesday, December 20. “AVATAR iTunes Extras Special Edition” lets fans deconstruct some of the movie’s most memorable scenes to reveal how James Cameron applied special effects to create the breathtaking world of Pandora. “AVATAR iTunes Extras Special Edition” will be available at http://www.iTunes.com/Avatar for pre-order starting today, December 16 for $19.99 HD/$14.99 SD.

Fans can experience the global box office sensation like never before as they control scene deconstructions in simultaneous views. This new feature will also enable consumers to interact with the performance capture and visual effects levels in 17 of the film’s scenes. For the first time ever, Green Screen X-ray gives users an interactive look through the visual effects levels to see the original green screen footage behind a pivotal scene.

“Digital platforms like iTunes usher in new ways to interact with and watch movies like AVATAR,” said Aubrey Freeborn, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Management for Worldwide VOD and Electronic Sell-Through, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “These new interactive features enhance the experience and encourage digital ownership.”

“AVATAR iTunes Extras Special Edition” also features an original screenplay by James Cameron, Cameron’s scriptment (a novella with some scenes broken out into dialogue), a gallery of 1,700 images and more.

AVATAR, the Oscar and Golden Globe winning epic, is the highest-grossing film of all time, generating nearly $2.8 billion in worldwide box office. AVATAR is also the top-selling Blu-ray disc of all time.

Do you have an iPhone 4S? Do you drive a car? Do you have amnesia? If you answered yes to at least two-and-a-half of these questions, you’ll probably be interested in Find My Car Smart — a Kickstarter project that wants to help dudes find their cars, with the help of Bluetooth 4.0 technology.

The system is relatively straightforward, consisting of nothing more than an iOS app (available now on iTunes for $0.99), and a USB-based Bluetooth proximity adapter. All you have to do is download the app, stick the dongle in your car, and let your iPhone 4S automatically mark your parking spot. Whereas similarly-designed apps typically require users to manually record their car’s location before leaving the lot, Find My Car Smart allows you to forget even that, since the app will automatically record your GPS coordinates. FMC Smart says it won’t start shipping adapters until it reaches its Kickstarter funding goal, though it’s aiming to deliver its first 500 devices by January. For more details, hit up the links below.

New Rumors Emerging During MWC 2011 Suggest Apple Is Testing More Than One Next-gen iPhone Version, the Slide-Out QWERTY Is Definitely Surprising!

The latest iPhone 5 rumor is that Apple is currently testing three prototype models of the iPhone 5, and the rumor comes from a Taiwan based website which has in the past published information about new Apple devices that have been true.

According to the rumor one prototype iPhone 5 is identical to the existing iPhone 4, except for a larger battery and a more powerful camera, although this doesn’t tie in with the earlier rumor that we heard about the iPhone 5 featuring a larger display.

Amidst all the MWC 2011 talk a strange rumor has emerged saying that Apple is testing not just one but three iPhone 5 prototypes. Nothing wrong with that! In fact that’s what we expect from any smartphone maker, but what’s pretty strange about this rumor is that the words QWERTY slide-out keyboard have been mentioned.

The other reported prototype which sound interesting, is an iPhone 5 with a slide out QWERTY keyboard, this is something we heard last year and didn’t materialize, and something we don’t think Apple will produce.

If Apple are looking to make more version of the iPhone 5 we suspect they will launch two separate models, a new iPhone 5 to replace the iPhone 4s and an iPhone mini to go after budget Android devices.

Well, let’s see what will Apple will update about their latest phones! Will keep you posted…

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Design

From the front and rear glass panels to the sleek steel band, everything on the outside still feels the same. As expected, the dimensions are also the same – 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3mm. However, the iPhone 4S is a tad heavier, coming in at 140g, compared to the 137g of its predecessor.

One slight change in the design would be the placement of the buttons on the left spine. As seen in this picture comparison, the iPhone 4S’ mute button and the volume keys are raised just a little bit compared to the older model (GSM variant). It is quite a minute difference. However, protective cases that have these precise button openings for the iPhone 4 may not necessarily fit the newer version. For CDMA variants, some users have noted that their version of iPhone 4 cases will also likely fit the 4S.

Aside from this negligible difference, the design of both phones are identical. Their speaker and microphone placements, camera (front and back) locations, are pretty much one and the same – so much so that you can mistake one for the other at first glance.

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Hardware Specifications

While the two devices share many similarities, there are notable differences when it comes to hardware, as you can see below.

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Software iOS 5 And Siri

Apple’s new iOS5 contains a horde of new features. The good news is that iPhone 4 owners shouldn’t feel left behind. With the exception of Siri, every feature on iOS5 such as the new Notifications available; apps like Newsstand, iMessage, Reminders; and additional camera options can also be found on the iPhone 4. The difference is that the iPhone 4S is noticeably snappier and faster, thanks to its new A5 chip.

Siri is Apple’s new intelligent software voice-recognition assistant and exclusive to the iPhone 4S. While some users have shown that Siri runs just fine on an iPhone 4, connecting to Apple’s servers have proven to be a futile attempt as it only accepts commands from the UID of an iPhone 4S handset.

When Apple demoed the application, the company noted that it is still in beta and currently only supports English, (US, UK, Australian) German, and French. Those outside the US may not be able to fully utilize its function as well, but Apple is working on allowing more users to experience Siri’s full potential.

Some of the cool things Siri can do is type messages as the user dictates it then send it to the recipient, set an alarm, place a reminder, and even do some light researching for you. One user even managed to let Siri start a car, although the setup was pretty complicated.

Despite all its capabilities, it still remains to be seen whether Siri will become a game changer: it is, after all, still in beta, the video below shows Siri in action.

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Camera Comparison

While most of it’s physical appearances may not have changed, Apple made sure that the iPhone 4S got souped up under the hood.
First on the list would be the camera – which went from 5 megapixels on the iPhone 4 to 8 megapixels, a move that would bring it on par with its competitors. The new 1080p video resolution is also a welcome development. Aside from increasing the photo and video resolution, the 4S uses a 5 element lens that should result in sharper images via optics.

The new iPhone’s lens also totes an aperture of f/2.4, new CMOS sensor with backside illumination, and a new Hybrid IR filter for better color rendering. All these improvements turn the iPhone 4S into a very capable digital camera replacement for the regular user. Taking shots proved to be very snappy, colors were more accurate, the dynamic range was wider, and had less noise despite the higher resolution sensor over the iPhone 4, the video below was shot on the iPhone 4S in full HD at 1080p.

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Processor And Speed

With the iPhone 4S getting the A5 chip also found on the iPad 2, the operating speed and graphics display, as expected, went up another notch. The iPhone 4 is no slouch in the speed category as well, but Apple’s latest gem just feels faster especially when using apps that require a lot of graphics. The PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics on the iPhone 4S is quoted to be “seven times better” than the PowerVR SGX 535 on the iPhone 4.

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Battery Life

The iPhone 4S has a new, slightly higher capacity battery, though the advertised battery times by Apple shows that the battery life between the two devices are almost identical. Talk time is rated at 14 hours (2G) and 8 hours (3G) on the iPhone 4S while its predecessor had the same 2G talk time and 7 hours on 3G. Stand-by time on the 4S is 200 hours both on 2G and 3G while the iPhone 4 had a better time of 300 hours on both bands.

While the iPhone 4S should have no battery problems as indicated by the spec sheet, many users are complaining of a shorter battery life. The problem seems to be a software issue and Apple has recently released the iOS 5.0.1 update to fix it. Some users have claimed that the update have somehow addressed their battery problems. But for those who still experience them, Apple has released iOS 5.1 to developers which may hopefully put an end to users’ battery woes.

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Reception, Call Quality And Data Speeds

With the iPhone 4 “antennagate” issue that blew up the Internet last year, Apple seemed to have learned its lesson. They’ve now made sure that the iPhone 4S is up to par in terms of call quality and reception. The infamous death grip is no longer an issue and users can, thankfully, use their phone even without a bumper case on. In terms of data speed, the 4S’ HSDPA is rated at 14.4 Mbps: double that of the previous version. On HSUPA, the two devices are almost identical with the latest version at 5.8 Mbps and the iPhone 4 at 5.7 Mbps. It is worth noting that Apple dubs its latest offering as a world phone, which means it supports both CDMA and GSM.

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S Price

A quick glance at the Apple website shows the iPhone 4S is for sale at $199 for the 16GB version, $299 for the 32GB, and $399 for the 64GB. The iPhone4 at 8GB is being sold for $99. All prices come with a network contract.

Conclusion

After a rundown of the two iPhone models, it’s quite obvious the latest version packs a lot of improved features. It should also be faster in pretty much all aspects, all while being enclosed in a familiar shell. And while there is nothing really revolutionary about it for some, the iPhone 4S has enough to lure majority of consumers with its fast processor, good camera, and the availability of tons of apps.

This is quite a tough one to call if you already own an iPhone 4, although if you use your iPhone for taking a lot of photos, then the new 8 megapixel camera may be worth the upgrade.

The addition of Siri to the iPhone 4S isn’t really a deal breaker, and you can probably live without it, as it is still in beta at the moment, and more of a novelty than a useful tool.

Whether you choose the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 4S, they are both great smartphones, and you get many of the features, Siri excluded on the iPhone 4, as you do on the iPhone 4S thanks to Apple’s iOS 5.

What will tablets look like in the coming year? Tablets are out of their infancy and moving into adolescence–which means that we can expect big changes ahead as tablets’ design and components improve.

Tablet operating systems will see some new blood, too, with the introduction of Android 4.0 and Windows 8. How will these changes manifest? Let’s start with design.

Lighter and Thinner Tablets

Next year you can expect tablets to become even lighter and thinner than they are now. Actually, the shift has already begun: For 10-inch-class tablets, 1.2 to 1.3 pounds is shaking out as the new normal weight (down from 1.5 to 1.6 pounds as the norm in 2011), and 0.3 to 0.4 inch is becoming the new standard in thickness (down from 0.5 inch).

And those numbers should edge lower still, especially after Android manufacturers see what design leader Apple has in store for its iPad 3, which is widely expected to appear sometime in the first quarter of 2012.

Now that the rush to get a first tablet to market is past, manufacturers will likely turn their attention to the nitty-gritty details–display quality, text rendering, speakers, infrared ports for using a tablet as a remote control–as they try to get right in 2012 what they fumbled on during their first time out. We’ll continue to see a wide array of screen sizes–from 7 inches to 10.1 inches–simply because consumers haven’t yet shown enough of a preference to eliminate some of the middle sizes.

Amazon Kindle FireAdditionally, we’ll continue to see prices push down, thanks in part to models like the Amazon Kindle Fire–a 7-inch tablet that sells for $199, which is just a few dollars below Amazon’s cost. Nvidia’s CEO reportedly expects that prices for tablets using Nvidia’s Tegra 3 system on a chip will drop to $299 by mid-2012.

Quad-Core Chips

Nvidia launched the Tegra 3 platform in November. Previously known as “Project Kal-El,” the Tegra 3 packs in a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU, a fifth “low-power” core for handling secondary tasks (such as playing music), and a 12-core GeForce GPU for graphics-intensive rendering. With quad-core chips, tablets should become more-capable performers that compete better with laptops than they do today.

Asus Transformer PrimeThe Asus Transformer Prime seems poised to be the first tablet to market to include Tegra 3. The Transformer Prime is a slimmer and redesigned version of the first-gen Eee Pad Transformer. The Prime is due to ship in December with an expected price of $500 for a model with 32GB of storage.

Nvidia may have an early monopoly on the quad-core chip market for tablets. Qualcomm announced that its quad-core Snapdragon chips for tablets won’t be out until its Snapdragon S4 line appears in the second half of next year. Qualcomm has already spoken of its chips being used for Windows 8 tablets. Meanwhile, Freescale and Texas Instruments have both said that they also will have quad-core ARM chips in 2012.

We expect to hear about more tablets using quad-core chips–from Nvidia and other manufacturers–during the 2012 International CES trade show in January.

Higher-Resolution Displays

Toshiba Thrive 7″ tabletWhile the 1024-by-768-pixel iPad 2 offers only 132 pixels per inch, the upcoming Toshiba Thrive 7″ tablet will arrive with a 1280-by-800-pixel display that boasts 225 pixels per inch, the same as on the already-shipping T-Mobile SpringBoard. (Due in December, the Thrive 7″ is the smaller cousin of the 10.1-inch Thrive.)

The extra pixels are important, as they help smooth out the text so that you don’t see the dots that form the letters. Rumors are running rampant that a high-resolution display, akin to but perhaps not quite as high as the one in the iPhone 4S, will be in the next version of the iPad.

It’s All About the Operating System

Android Ice Cream Sandwich logoTablet operating systems will evolve in a big way in 2012. Already, we know that Android 4.0–code-named Ice Cream Sandwich–is the mobile operating system that Google is touting as the great unifier between the divergent Android 2.x phone and 3.x tablet platforms.

Asus says it will offer a downloadable firmware upgrade for the Transformer Prime, to replace its shipping Android 3.2 OS with Ice Cream Sandwich. But that update won’t be available until the beginning of 2012. In the meantime, you can get a glimpse of the new OS via Nvidia’s video of Ice Cream Sandwich on the Transformer Prime.

The actual benefits and implications of Ice Cream Sandwich for tablets remain fuzzy, however, since no tablet has shipped with Android 4.0 yet. In addition to new tablets carrying Ice Cream Sandwich, some manufacturers have indicated that certain already-released Android tablets will get an update to the new OS, but details remain vague.

Windows 8 Tablets

Android isn’t the only news on the tablet-OS front for next year. Microsoft’s big coming-out party for Windows 8 is scheduled for 2012, and Windows 8 is bound for tablets in a big way.

Today, several companies offer Windows 7 slates, including Dell, ExoPC, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Motion Computing, Samsung, and ViewSonic. With prices starting at $650 and running to nearly twice that, however, manufacturers typically position these tablets for use in the business world, where the Windows operating system reigns supreme, and where buyers tend to have custom software already designed for the OS.

When it comes to complete end-to-end compatibility for data, apps, and peripherals, nothing compares to what a Windows device can offer. That’s a significant advantage over Android and iOS that Windows tablets should be able to exploit. Tablets running Windows 8 could address the twin troubles of file handling and app compatibility across devices, since you will be able to run the same software on a tablet as you will on a Metro-capable PC.

Apple Tablets

Finally, with Apple having just released iOS 5.0, we don’t expect a lot of innovation or announcements surrounding the iOS operating system and how it plays with the iPad 3. Those announcements will likely stay under wraps until closer to midyear, when Apple holds its Worldwide Developers Conference (the date has not yet been set, but it is rumored to be in June). Along the same lines, news of the rumored next Android OS, code-named Jelly Bean, will have to wait for confirmation at the Google I/O conference in April.